The Hollow Vampire bats (Aer Fuga Alveus) is an evolved species of the previous Common Vampire Bat. It weighs normally between 21-27 grams and is approximately 7 cm in length. The Aer Fuga Alveus in many ways are similar to the previous genus, especially the physical characteristics such as sharp and long incisor teeth, but the Aer Fuga Alveus is slightly larger in size in comparison and has special characteristics such as infrared eyes and hollow bones.
The Hollow Bats’ binomial name is Aer Fuga Alveus which translates to air flight hollow which can simply exhibit the main factors of this animal. The word “Air” and “Flight” describes the Bats’ abilities to take flight in the air and the word “Hollow” promotes the fact that it has hollow bones.
Taxonomy of Hollow Vampire Bat
Diagram of Hollow Vampire Bat
Diagram of Hollow Vampire Bat
Habitat of Hollow Vampire Bat
Habitat of Hollow Vampire Bat (Red Area) Retrieved from http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/pangeaultima_scotese_big1.jpg
The Hollow bat are not considered to be endemic animals like the Kangaroo being unique to Australia, it can be found on every continent on Earth except for Antartica . According to scientists’ predictions of the future world in 250 million years, North & South America, Africa, and Eurasia would be interlocked whilst Antarctica and Australia would be joint as the map has shown. This phenomenon allows the Hollow Bat’s population to be expanded from the Common Vampire Bats’ limited region in the North and South American continent to a worldwide spread across the globe.
In 250 million years time due to factors such as continental drift or tectonic movements, parts of South America and South of the Eurasia continents will be located through the equator. Being located on the Equator will translate to the surrounding environment being hotter along with current environment issues such as global warming and increasing industrial pollution, the Hollow Bats are promised to live in a rather hotter environment than their ancestors ever did. Furthermore, areas in the North of Australia may experience many unpredictable natural disasters such as floods and cyclones will occur especially during summer seasons which may lead to a hard time trying to find food. Nonetheless, just like the Common Vampire Bats, the Hollow Bats can easily adapt to any environment just as long as it remains arid and humid.
As the distribution range of the Hollow Bats has increased so has its range of predators. Previously, its ancestors’ only predators were large birds such as hawks and owls that flew in the sky however descendants of some species of snakes such as the modern day boa constrictor and pythons have also began to prey on this species. Although the Hollow Bats are nocturnal animal but most of its predators are active at night too hence if the individual bat fails to find food without endangering its life, the method of Reciprocal Altruism will be employed.
The Hollow Bats, just like its ancestors are adaptable to any environment just as long as it is preferably arid and humid with available food source. It inhabits mostly in caves, trees but unlike its ancestors it no longer inhabits in man-made structure as it can be hard to find potential food source. Nonetheless, its hollow bone structure allows it to fly a longer distance to find the most suitable habitat (shelter from threat and close to food source). And just like the Vampire Bats, they continue to live in colonies of variety sizes ranging from a hundred up to two thousand.
Modern Tropical Forest, which would be similar to Hollow Bat's future habitat environment. Retrieved from http://www.pasadenaneighborhoods.com/Tropical_Forest_L.A._Arboretum.JPG
Structural Adaptations
Hollow Bones
Reference from bird's hollow bones
In the Hollow Bats’ binomial name, the last word is Alveus which means Hollow clearly identify the unique hollow bones that Hollow Bats have obtained. This is the main characteristics that differentiate the Hollow Bats and their ancestors; Vampire Bats. They are the only bats that acquire this structural adaptation in their genus. In the 21st century, the only animals that have hollow bones are from the ‘aves family’ which purely consist of birds such as the Little Penguin. By possessing the hollow bones, it carries a lighter weight and enables it to fly at a faster speed to make it more difficult for big birds such as hawks and owls to catch up and launch attack. Also, scientists believed when the hollow bone is filled with air it allows the animal to fly a longer distance which much at its advantage since large birds can only fly swiftly for a short period of time then tend to tired down for a while. The environment pressure is to escape from predators in a quicker speed while it is flying in the air and save Bats from being another animals’ meal.
Infrared Vision
Since the temperature throughout the world, especially near the equator has risen due to global warming and other environmental factors it is no longer a choice for the Hollow Bats to roost themselves near their food like their ancestors did. So, the Bats obtained a new structural adaptation of hollow bones. Now, not being able to live near their food source can increase the difficulty in finding desired food source, so the Hollow Bats are now adapted with a new infrared vision system. Because all of its potential preys are warm blooded animals which tend to be cooler than its environment, using its eyes the Hollow Bats can detect where the location of nearby warm blooded animals are by the colour differentiation. Usually the purple or blue colour will represent cool environment and the area with red or orange colour will be a warm blooded animal and a potential prey for the Hollow Bat. This ability allows it to be easier to spot the location of warm blooded preys. The environment pressure is that over the long period of time (millions of years), Hollow Bats’ habitat limited greatly so this adaptation helps them to locate their preys easily providing a larger chance for individual animals to locate food source and consuming food is important to keep an animal alive.
Behavioral Adaptations
Screaming
Due to its small size, the previous species of the Common Vampire Bats did not have a good combat ability or self protection skills to react when they are attacked. It would be extremely difficult for the hollow bats to survive with the same undeveloped combat abilities as other predators has the advantage of being in a larger size thus a larger threat. Therefore, the Hollow Bat has developed a method of self defence and combat in order to protect itself. This method is effective to any animals with sensitive hearing; most species of nocturnal animals (such as the European Rabbit) are adapted with sensitive hearing because it is important for it to listen for nearby danger in the dark. The new ability allows the hollow bat to release an awkward pitched sound wave that may stun the opponent for few seconds and may cause a short timed deaf reaction to the opponent. This may postpone the opponent from launching attack or even scare it away, the loud ‘scream’ can also alert surrounding fellow Hollow Bats. The environment pressure is the disadvantage of the Hollow Bats being so small and not having any combat abilities against its predators, also because its distribution range the variety of predators have increased thus it is important for them to have self-defence or the species may be demolished.
Ganging it up
The previous species of Common Vampire Bats were known to live in colonies ranging a variety of sizes from a hundred up to two thousand. This can assure safety and promote a sense of security to an individual. Scientists have observed that individual bats leaving the colony, up to 70% will not make it back to the colony. A new adaptation that the Hollow Bats obtain is the habit of going anywhere will a group of at least ten others. The benefit of doing so is that once a bat spots ‘danger’ it projects a ‘scream’ so others in the group can be alert of the threat. Also, when the individuals from the group can take turn in feeding and watching out for each other. When one feeds, the others will act as a ‘body guard’ and the situation is vice versa. The environment pressure is the fact that individuals tend to get killed while scouting for food alone so by going in a group can both satisfy their needs for food but also ensure their safety.
Physiological Adaptation
Sweating
In the 21st century when vampire bats still exists, they inhabited caves or other covered up places during daytime and only becomes active to hunt at night. Because temperature decreases at night they wouldn’t need to care much about heat. Similarly this applies to the hollow bat; however, due to the massive climate change throughout the 250 million years, the temperature at the night has risen in a large scale. In order to let the hollow bat to adapt to the new, hot environment, they will need to do something to remove the excessive heat from their body, which is ‘sweating’. Their metabolism and skin are able to produce mucus around their body that is used to block the UV rays from the sun, but also to cool the hollow bat’s body temperature keeping it at a reasonable and pleasant body temperature. The environment pressure is one of the most current environment issue; global warming, since the world is increasing getting hotter and hotter each year the Hollow Bats will now have to adapt and sweating can help them to maintain a suitable body temperature.
The Hollow Vampire bats (Aer Fuga Alveus) is an evolved species of the previous Common Vampire Bat. It weighs normally between 21-27 grams and is approximately 7 cm in length. The Aer Fuga Alveus in many ways are similar to the previous genus, especially the physical characteristics such as sharp and long incisor teeth, but the Aer Fuga Alveus is slightly larger in size in comparison and has special characteristics such as infrared eyes and hollow bones.
The Hollow Bats’ binomial name is Aer Fuga Alveus which translates to air flight hollow which can simply exhibit the main factors of this animal. The word “Air” and “Flight” describes the Bats’ abilities to take flight in the air and the word “Hollow” promotes the fact that it has hollow bones.
Taxonomy of Hollow Vampire Bat
Diagram of Hollow Vampire Bat
Habitat of Hollow Vampire Bat
The Hollow bat are not considered to be endemic animals like the Kangaroo being unique to Australia, it can be found on every continent on Earth except for Antartica . According to scientists’ predictions of the future world in 250 million years, North & South America, Africa, and Eurasia would be interlocked whilst Antarctica and Australia would be joint as the map has shown. This phenomenon allows the Hollow Bat’s population to be expanded from the Common Vampire Bats’ limited region in the North and South American continent to a worldwide spread across the globe.
In 250 million years time due to factors such as continental drift or tectonic movements, parts of South America and South of the Eurasia continents will be located through the equator. Being located on the Equator will translate to the surrounding environment being hotter along with current environment issues such as global warming and increasing industrial pollution, the Hollow Bats are promised to live in a rather hotter environment than their ancestors ever did. Furthermore, areas in the North of Australia may experience many unpredictable natural disasters such as floods and cyclones will occur especially during summer seasons which may lead to a hard time trying to find food. Nonetheless, just like the Common Vampire Bats, the Hollow Bats can easily adapt to any environment just as long as it remains arid and humid.
As the distribution range of the Hollow Bats has increased so has its range of predators. Previously, its ancestors’ only predators were large birds such as hawks and owls that flew in the sky however descendants of some species of snakes such as the modern day boa constrictor and pythons have also began to prey on this species. Although the Hollow Bats are nocturnal animal but most of its predators are active at night too hence if the individual bat fails to find food without endangering its life, the method of Reciprocal Altruism will be employed.
The Hollow Bats, just like its ancestors are adaptable to any environment just as long as it is preferably arid and humid with available food source. It inhabits mostly in caves, trees but unlike its ancestors it no longer inhabits in man-made structure as it can be hard to find potential food source. Nonetheless, its hollow bone structure allows it to fly a longer distance to find the most suitable habitat (shelter from threat and close to food source). And just like the Vampire Bats, they continue to live in colonies of variety sizes ranging from a hundred up to two thousand.
Structural Adaptations
Hollow Bones
Infrared Vision
Since the temperature throughout the world, especially near the equator has risen due to global warming and other environmental factors it is no longer a choice for the Hollow Bats to roost themselves near their food like their ancestors did. So, the Bats obtained a new structural adaptation of hollow bones. Now, not being able to live near their food source can increase the difficulty in finding desired food source, so the Hollow Bats are now adapted with a new infrared vision system. Because all of its potential preys are warm blooded animals which tend to be cooler than its environment, using its eyes the Hollow Bats can detect where the location of nearby warm blooded animals are by the colour differentiation. Usually the purple or blue colour will represent cool environment and the area with red or orange colour will be a warm blooded animal and a potential prey for the Hollow Bat. This ability allows it to be easier to spot the location of warm blooded preys. The environment pressure is that over the long period of time (millions of years), Hollow Bats’ habitat limited greatly so this adaptation helps them to locate their preys easily providing a larger chance for individual animals to locate food source and consuming food is important to keep an animal alive.Behavioral Adaptations
Screaming
Due to its small size, the previous species of the Common Vampire Bats did not have a good combat ability or self protection skills to react when they are attacked. It would be extremely difficult for the hollow bats to survive with the same undeveloped combat abilities as other predators has the advantage of being in a larger size thus a larger threat. Therefore, the Hollow Bat has developed a method of self defence and combat in order to protect itself. This method is effective to any animals with sensitive hearing; most species of nocturnal animals (such as the European Rabbit) are adapted with sensitive hearing because it is important for it to listen for nearby danger in the dark. The new ability allows the hollow bat to release an awkward pitched sound wave that may stun the opponent for few seconds and may cause a short timed deaf reaction to the opponent. This may postpone the opponent from launching attack or even scare it away, the loud ‘scream’ can also alert surrounding fellow Hollow Bats. The environment pressure is the disadvantage of the Hollow Bats being so small and not having any combat abilities against its predators, also because its distribution range the variety of predators have increased thus it is important for them to have self-defence or the species may be demolished.Ganging it up
The previous species of Common Vampire Bats were known to live in colonies ranging a variety of sizes from a hundred up to two thousand. This can assure safety and promote a sense of security to an individual. Scientists have observed that individual bats leaving the colony, up to 70% will not make it back to the colony. A new adaptation that the Hollow Bats obtain is the habit of going anywhere will a group of at least ten others. The benefit of doing so is that once a bat spots ‘danger’ it projects a ‘scream’ so others in the group can be alert of the threat. Also, when the individuals from the group can take turn in feeding and watching out for each other. When one feeds, the others will act as a ‘body guard’ and the situation is vice versa. The environment pressure is the fact that individuals tend to get killed while scouting for food alone so by going in a group can both satisfy their needs for food but also ensure their safety.Physiological Adaptation
Sweating
In the 21st century when vampire bats still exists, they inhabited caves or other covered up places during daytime and only becomes active to hunt at night. Because temperature decreases at night they wouldn’t need to care much about heat. Similarly this applies to the hollow bat; however, due to the massive climate change throughout the 250 million years, the temperature at the night has risen in a large scale. In order to let the hollow bat to adapt to the new, hot environment, they will need to do something to remove the excessive heat from their body, which is ‘sweating’. Their metabolism and skin are able to produce mucus around their body that is used to block the UV rays from the sun, but also to cool the hollow bat’s body temperature keeping it at a reasonable and pleasant body temperature. The environment pressure is one of the most current environment issue; global warming, since the world is increasing getting hotter and hotter each year the Hollow Bats will now have to adapt and sweating can help them to maintain a suitable body temperature.Bibliography
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MadSci Network. (2010). Re: Do bats or other animal have hollow bones? Retrieved July 29th, 2010 from http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2000-11/973725015.Zo.r.html
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Discovery Channel. (2010). Hippo Sweat Offers Key to Natural Sunscreen. Retrieved July 29th, 2010, from http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/03/16/hippo-sweat-sunscreen.html
Climate Change. (2010). Future Temperature Changes. Retrieved July 29th, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/futuretc.html